Caleb Porter and Tim Bezbatchenko talked about bringing silverware to the Columbus Crew when they were hired in January of 2019. The team is on the cusp of doing so.
However, the roots of the Crew’s MLS Cup finalist team extend back six years. This Black & Gold team was built piece by piece, including members of the club’s last appearance in MLS Cup, giving the team continuity. The new leadership identified and fortified the roster, including breaking the team’s transfer fee record last offseason to speed the transition from scrappy overachievers to build what looks to be a consistent winner.